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Rodney joins rare company with 300th save

By
Jarrid DenneyMLB.com

PHOENIX -- Fernando Rodney locked down his 300th career save to secure the D-backs' 13-11 win over the Marlins at Chase Field on Friday night, and his teammates didn't waste a moment celebrating the accomplishment.

When the Arizona players returned to the clubhouse, they loaded Rodney in a laundry cart, wheeled him into the shower and doused the 40-year-old closer while celebrating around him.

PHOENIX -- Fernando Rodney locked down his 300th career save to secure the D-backs' 13-11 win over the Marlins at Chase Field on Friday night, and his teammates didn't waste a moment celebrating the accomplishment.

When the Arizona players returned to the clubhouse, they loaded Rodney in a laundry cart, wheeled him into the shower and doused the 40-year-old closer while celebrating around him.

"They were happy," Rodney said. "They enjoyed the moment and they shared it with me."

With the save, Rodney moved into a tie for 26th on the all-times saves list. The names he pulled even with explain just how rare of company he joined: Rodney sits tied with Bruce Sutter and Jason Isringhausen.

"Our team was really fired up about that. [Rodney] might be the least happy out of everyone," Zack Grienke said, laughing.

Rodney is fourth in the Majors with 39 saves, just one away from reaching 40 for the third time in his career. Rodney has made a habit this season of allowing teams a glimpse of hope in the ninth inning, just before slamming the door on them. Friday followed the formula, as he struck out J.T. Realmuto and Derek Dietrich in succession to start the ninth before walking Miguel Rojas and giving up a sharp single to Tomas Telis. That brought Dee Gordon to the plate, and Giancarlo Stanton to the on-deck circle, but Rodney got the speedy Gordon to hit into a forceout at second base to end the game.

"Fernando has decent numbers against Giancarlo," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "It would have been a great matchup. It's probably something he would have remembered if he had done it that way. But the way he did it, I know that was a special moment for him and we'll collect that win any way we can."